As a mechanism that protects new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity, the USPTO is at the cutting edge of the nation's technological progress and achievement.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency for granting U.S. patents and registering trademarks. In doing this, the USPTO fulfills the mandate of Article I, Section 8, Clause 8, of the Constitution that the legislative branch "promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries." The USPTO registers trademarks based on the commerce clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). Under this system of protection, American industry has flourished. New products have been invented, new uses for old ones discovered, and employment opportunities created for millions of Americans. The strength and vitality of the U.S. economy depends directly on effective mechanisms that protect new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity. The continued demand for patents and trademarks underscores the ingenuity of American inventors and entrepreneurs. The USPTO is at the cutting edge of the nation's technological progress and achievement.
The USPTO advises the president of the United States, the secretary of commerce, and U.S. government agencies on intellectual property (IP) policy, protection, and enforcement; and promotes the stronger and more effective IP protection around the world. The USPTO furthers effective IP protection for U.S. innovators and entrepreneurs worldwide by working with other agencies to secure strong IP provisions in free trade and other international agreements. It also provides training, education, and capacity building programs designed to foster respect for IP and encourage the development of strong IP enforcement regimes by U.S. trading partners.
Learn more about the men and women who lead the USPTO.
Learn more about the directors of our regional offices.
The various offices within the USPTO serve specific functions, both to the general public and the organization itself.
The USPTO has multiple offices located throughout the United States. Our headquarters is in Alexandria, Virginia.
Discover the rich history of the USPTO through the biographies of the people who have led the agency since 1802.
The Office of the Under Secretary (OUS) promotes the mission and strategic goals of the agency.
Upcoming events
News & Updates
USPTO ushers in new era with introduction of electronic patent grants
WASHINGTON—Beginning April 18, 2023, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is shifting towards issuing paper waste-reducing electronic patent grants (eGrants) to patent recipients—a new process that delivers the official copy of patent grants in an electronic format. We will provide a bound...
Modern, user-friendly Patent Center to fully replace legacy Public PAIR system this summer
WASHINGTON—Beginning August 1, 2022, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) Patent Center system—available to the public since 2017—will fully replace the legacy Public Patent Application Information Retrieval (Public PAIR) tool for the electronic filing and management of patent applications...
After a nearly 30-year career at the USPTO, Drew Hirshfeld to step down later this month
WASHINGTON—United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Deputy Director Drew Hirshfeld announced his final day in office will be June 21, capping off a nearly three-decades long career at America’s Innovation Agency...
Record number of practitioners and law firms helped under-resourced inventors and small businesses protect their innovations in 2021
WASHINGTON – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced the recipients of the 2021 Patent Pro Bono Achievement Certificate, recognizing and thanking individuals and law firms that have volunteered significant time and effort to help financially under-resourced inventors...
USPTO announces emphasis on transparency as it works to formalize Director review process
WASHINGTON – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is increasing transparency through updates on the interim process for Director review webpage and through a new webpage that provides the status of Director review requests as it formalizes the Director review process. In response to...
USPTO announces new Public Advisory Committee members
Washington – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced new membership to its Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees, composed of private-sector intellectual property (IP) executives who help advise the Secretary of Commerce and the USPTO Director on the...
USPTO issues patent number 11,000,000
WASHINGTON – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today officially issued U.S. patent number 11 million, recognizing an important milestone in American innovation and ingenuity. “This momentous benchmark is a reminder of the remarkable and enduring tradition of American innovation...
USPTO releases updated study on participation of women in the U.S. innovation economy
WASHINGTON - The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today released “Progress and Potential: 2020 Update on U.S. Women Inventor-Patentees,” a follow-up to its 2019 report on U.S. women inventors. The new report updates the previous findings based on a review of an additional nearly one...
Commissioner for Patents Drew Hirshfeld appointed to a second five-year term
WASHINGTON—The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced that Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has reappointed Commissioner for Patents Drew Hirshfeld for a second five-year term. Commissioner Hirshfeld’s original term was set to expire this July. “I am pleased to reappoint...
USPTO announces Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program
WASHINGTON — The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced plans for the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) to begin accepting petitions for expedited resolution of ex parte appeals. The “Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program” launches July 2, 2020. The required petition fee is...